Key factors in her story focus on the so-called legitimacy of those who believe in causes opposed to those who believe in God. My interpretation was she discovered “causes” are often leaders into vitriol and self-proclaimed promotion.

As was her case, for decades she believed her leftist ideology was true, real and the only one out there that mattered. As I read her descriptions of this philosophy, I felt I was reading a foreign language. Forgive my ignorance, but I wouldn’t be able to be a leftist simply because it’s too hard to comprehend. If I were, they would kick me out for not understanding how it works or how they think.

It was so far out, I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. My summation of it is a sordid communication built upon one explosion of anger after another. Anyone who decides to show up in that arena should be prepared for wicked adjectives, pronounced declarations of vengeance and lists of expletives filtered through each decree. NO wonder so many are depressed, full of sorrow and sad.

Evidently she found this out herself through a major affliction that changed her life some 20 years ago. In her desperate surgeries and the effort to get well, the only person that made a difference in her life was a nun. This nun would check on her and give her money/gift cards to help pay for that which she couldn’t afford anymore since her sickness had caused her to go broke. No one of the left-winged protesting group offered her any hope, much less a hand. But this nun and her loving generosity got Dr. Goska thinking.

She began to actually see the difference in love and hate.

Out of the 10 reasons she left the left, was the basis of it is born out of pure hate.

She had known nothing but hate for George Bush. Hate for Conservatives and hate for Christians until this quiet woman of faith showed her, love.

As a very educated, intellect, the idea of “love” as a way to do good, had not been a part of her life. Everything she did was out of hating something or someone because that is what the left does. Somehow, she discovered that was very wrong.

It helped me understand where they start from. It’s easy to hate something you don’t understand. Since you don’t understand it, you can fight it and conjure in your mind you have that right.

She has come a long way from where she began. In the end of her story, she said it was the “hate” of everything the left believes in that was enough to change her course. That “hate” is the discord they use to do whatever they want, whenever they want not caring who they hurt or what they have to do to accomplish their goal. It is a basis of no accountability which I believe is their underlining aim.

“If I don’t have to answer to anyone, then I can do whatever I want.” This is a mindset straight from Hell.

Sorry, but we all have to answer to God whether you believe in Him or not.

God is love which is why they hate him. Or any of us who believe in Him. We are considered the enemy, not an extended arm of love or genuine care.

John 13:34, “Love one another.” This is a command from God, not a “please do this,” but an order.

I say we start today, even one person at a time and watch God change the world.

Technology is mind boggling and necessary in our modern society but like many advances it comes with its problematic issues.

Never mind the Linksys router we’ve been using for years wasn’t on my radar for radical change; like buying a new one. After a morning of endless paperwork especially taxes on my laptop all of a sudden I had no internet connection. Our daughter confirmed she had none either so through numerous channels of communication discovered the router had finally died.

Net Gear found a new home re-connecting us not only to the internet but giving us a better signal all over the house.

The next day, I continued my journey with our taxes only to realize the printer wasn’t connected wirelessly so I couldn’t print anything. Ugh.

I am by no means a computer whiz, but after 20 years using these devices I have learned one or two things. Remembering how it was connected using my laptop before I began the process.

A few hours later, pulling my hair out as to why it wasn’t working, I sat on the phone twice with Net Gear for 20 minutes each waiting for the free tech support that came with our purchase. No agent ever answered. The next option was a chat online which resulted in the agent telling me this wasn’t a Net Gear problem but a printer problem. So much for free support. I’m sure this agent was well qualified to figure out the problem but chose otherwise making it a service warranty marketing tactic instead. Not buying it.

Frustration began to take over so I quit working on it punishing myself for not being able to do what appeared to be easy. Sitting down for a rest, I prayed.

“God, I know you know the printer isn’t connected and I need to use it. Please help or send me someone who knows how to do this. Thank you.”

Honestly, 10 minutes later my doorbell rang.

My next door neighbor who never comes to our door, and is one of my tenants was standing there. He’s an Army man and asked about their lease making sure they could remain in the house until 2018 when he would get his orders to move.

“I will speak to the owner but see no problem with that. Only right now I couldn’t even print you out a lease because my printer isn’t connected to our new router.”

An hour later he diagnosed the problem. The printer needed to rest so he told me to try the next day repeating what he had done. Informing him of how I had beaten myself up over this lack of knowledge he said they have IT people specifically trained at the base that spend their time all day long identifying problems with their computer systems which is how he knew what to do. And for the record it wasn’t anything I had seen before.

After he left, I thanked God.

There is no doubt in my mind God sent him to my door.

There is no doubt God knew this man would answer my need.

There is no doubt this was a Divine Connection God set up.

God wants to be a part of every area in our lives but we have to ask and communicate our needs to Him most of the time before He will answer. There have been times in my life when I didn’t even know I had a need and God supplied it without me having any idea it was coming. He did that because I was so focused on what was so vitally important to begin with that He took care of that which was completely out of my control.

Our relationship with Christ is the key here. When the lines of communication are open 24/7 with God, not only does He supply, surprises become a fringe benefit. He also protects us from that which we don’t know we need protecting from.

I commune with God off and on all day long, every day. It’s like a never ending conversation. Little prayers like, “God help me with this,” or “God what is your take on this particular subject” go a long way. And as always, He loves it when our gratitude is also never ending. Being thankful to God is like making deposits in a bank account that just keeps growing.

Knowing God intimately produces love, healing and peace which often leads to answers to crucial questions we may have along the way. Even questions that may seem trivial.

Joseph. The man we tend to forget. The man who had to decide to do the unthinkable.

Bringing to my attention his supporting actor role in the most important birth in history, I felt as if I had left him out of much of the casting. This wasn’t done to belittle his career but the focus was elsewhere.

Mary was a chosen woman. One with an appointment like none other. How would any man be able to live up to the standards of the mother of the Son of God? How would any man be able to do what he was asked to do without some hesitation on his part?

Granted, Mary’s role wasn’t easy by any means but neither was Joseph’s. Over the centuries Mary has been given the lead actor’s position in a drama only God could have written, but Mary couldn’t have fulfilled her heroic purpose without Joseph.

One might refer to Joseph as the back-up guy, or Mary’s support system.

First he had to accept her pregnancy without understanding it. But who would believe such a story?

He had to fight off crowds of accusers for the lie she supposedly was telling.

He lost friends. Coworkers. Acquaintances.

How does a soon- to- be groom explain to his family his betrothed is pregnant by another man?

Yet, Joseph stood against the odds and accepted Mary as his soon- to- be wife in the midst of a presumed scandalous affair.

And Joseph thought this was the hard part.

After God revealed to Joseph in a dream Mary was indeed telling the truth, he would embark on a journey no other man has ever taken.

Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

How does a man protect the mother- to- be of the Lamb of God?

How does a man walk on foot across miles and miles of treacherous terrain leading his wife who is in her last trimester of pregnancy carrying the Light of the World on a donkey?

And then how does a man who probably had never witnessed a woman giving birth aid in giving birth to the King of the Jews?

Not only were these all “firsts” for Joseph, but he had no other place to take her but a smelly, old hay filled manger with cows and goats watching.

Was that what Joseph had planned for his new bride?

Was this the scene he wanted his legacy to be built upon?

Was this Joseph’s idea of a birthing place for the Prince of Peace? The Anointed One? Emanuel?

My thinking is he never had time to fully comprehend the enormity of it all before it happened.

They had to leave town immediately to escape Herod’s henchmen.

Joseph didn’t have time to find a Marriott Hotel for the birth; he had to take what was available.

And babies are born on their own schedule. Joseph wasn’t given a crash course in midwifery.

Had God given Joseph a heads up a few years prior to this extraordinary story, would he have skipped town?

Would he have asked, “God, I’m not the man for this job, please find someone else?

If Joseph had thought it through would he have understood the magnitude of his calling?

If he had let it all sink in would he have taken on the fatherhood of the child who would one day be his Savior?

Joseph, the quiet man standing in the shadows probably spent the rest of his earthly life pondering the marvel of it all.

Matthew 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Many times what we see in front of us is the grass that appears to be a plush green. What’s on the other side is the greener hill we have ignored out of our own choosing. Why?

Because we would have to change. Admit we were wrong. Humble ourselves. Knock down our own pedestals. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to eat my own words.

Smokescreens pop up everywhere; a fog like mask specifically designed to hide something.

The key is to know how to determine the difference between the smokescreens and the truth.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Aldous Huxley said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad.” He may have a point here; at least in some cases.

Jesus made the Pharisees mad over and over.

Jesus made the retailers mad for turning over their tables.

Jesus made his own people, the Jews mad because he claimed to be God.

Why is this so?

The truth isn’t what people want to hear. And they don’t want to hear it especially from people who are prophetic, or know God differently they than do.

A prime example of this is King David and the Prophet Nathan.

In II Samuel 12, God sent the Prophet Nathan to David. The story goes that the two argued quite loudly. David didn’t like what Nathan was saying and Nathan let him know in no uncertain terms he had deeply sinned against God. As a result of David’s sin of adultery and murder his household was wounded, scarred and a heartbreaking mess. Does anyone hear this? Can anyone relate?

You may ask, “Who is this guy Nathan and what could he possibly know?”

Well, he knew God. He was appointed by God as a Prophet to one of the most valuable characters of the Bible; one who would carry the bloodline of the Messiah.

David was young and stupid. Stubborn. Willful. Arrogant. These negative, obstinate characteristics blinded him from God’s truth and what he knew was God’s will. Why?

Because he wanted what wasn’t his.

He lied to cover up the original lie so he could keep what wasn’t his.

He allowed his Kingly appointment to believe he could get away with whatever he wanted.

WRONG!

No position will ever allow any of us to get whatever we think we want. What “appears” to be a season of achieving our greedy desires is only a smokescreen for the truth and will eventually end. That ending usually follows with unbearable consequences.

God is always speaking to us; through His word, nature, people and most importantly the Holy Spirit. God speaks in more ways than are countable because He is a creative God.

Maybe if we started listening we would know when, what and how He is speaking.

Ask God to speak to you. Read the Bible. Pray. Open your heart and ears to His voice and allow Him to share Himself with you.

It revealed to me how we, as Christians over the last 4 decades went silent.

I can’t speak for Mr. Walsh, but I don’t believe he was intentionally leaving out how Jesus promoted peace. He is peace. But we live in a very fallen, evil world that isn’t peaceful.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 “A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

In a recent conversation I was told I was a bigot, a homophobic, racist, hateful, and full of intolerance, hypocritical and a “white privileged American.” Never mind these people didn’t know I existed before this conversation yet they labeled me to be what they wanted me to be since we disagreed.

Add to the few angry cohorts who were obviously following this person’s lead, I was in a nutshell, what is wrong with America.

Why?

For telling the truth.

I could care less what people think of me.

Let’s throw everyone who thinks or tries to live a Godly life in a bucket and persecute them until they shut up. Or at least that’s what many who claim to be walking with the Lord are doing, but must be reading from a different Bible than I do.

The timing of my reading what Matt Walsh wrote and this connection to those who think I am their enemy, couldn’t have been coincidental.

I read it before this occurred.

Years ago I remember how my quiet, shy mother began to speak boldly about God. She had no problems reprimanding us as kids even to our grown up ages, but she was noticeably quiet about her love for Christ and all He had done for her. It all changed after God healed her. She began opening up about her faith. She spoke and quoted verses without hesitation. She began an exhibiting an authority in her words about her walk with God.

Once there was a conversation at a dinner table with some Christian friends of hers she had been to college with. The only man in the room was a strong believer who had been a high school football coach and a high school principal for many years. He was very intelligent, handsome (a Yule Brenner look alike) and headstrong. Mom didn’t agree with something he said and she let him know. She had never done that with him. His wife, me and my daughter sat in silence observing this seemingly calm interchange become a demand from his standpoint that he didn’t approve of her new found faith and should keep her mouth shut.

She didn’t.

His male ego was shattered as she continued to speak the truth of God’s word because he was an upstanding man of God and she couldn’t possibly know something he didn’t.

We all had dessert and went on our way. They remained friends for many years after that until he passed away.

Isn’t that what Jesus did?

He spoke the truth even if it provoked people.

He walked in a spirit of authority that was noticeable but also offensive to some.

He was solid in His convictions and remained that way no matter how others responded.

Many in America today, including Christians are blinded from the truth. In their hearts is a rebellion against doing it “God’s way”. Instead they speak unwisely slamming that which they don’t understand because;

Their personal relationship to Christ is limited

It’s easy to dismiss what they don’t understand

They would have to admit they’ve been wrong and change

Reading and studying the Bible isn’t a priority

As I have grown in my walk with the Lord, I have noticed a boldness to speak about God that I never had before.

It wasn’t taught in the churches I attended.

Men were the head and we women were told to keep quiet, teach Sunday school and cook church dinners. Have I told you I didn’t inherit the ability to boil water?

The culture squashed speaking God’s word as evil has spread.

We allowed the enemy to tell Christians that we had to be “nice” as Matt Walsh wrote and remain doormats, therefore giving God very little voice.

And look where it got us?

Now having a conversation about the truth is considered unacceptable, narrow minded and repulsive. One woman told me I was exhausting her. Hhhhmmmm…I told her she didn’t have to read what I wrote. But she had no problem reading the very, lonnnnnnnnnngggggg comments from those who agreed with her.

There is a point to walk away as Jesus did, often. Say what He says and there is no need for defense because He doesn’t lie.

In this time we live in speaking out about Christ is needed more than ever.

But in order for it to be effective we have to do it “His way” and be Jesus to those listening.

The last few days, we here in South Carolina have been pummeled with rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie. And we are 2 hours inland from the beach!

So much for needing to add water to the pool.

I’m not complaining but some sunshine would be nice. It’s actually been dreary for about 2 weeks leading up to the holiday weekend when the skies unloaded.

The dreariness adds to the all-around mood of the world at large and especially our nation. Technology is great but add to it the miserable actions going on in the world and you’ve got a recipe for depression and discouragement.

BTW: are you feeling down yet? Have I succeeded in filling your mind with negativity?

In all of my life with its crisis and attacks I can’t remember when I have ever felt that literally everything seems to be falling apart. From my personal life to stepping outdoors to the nation and its political circus, the atmosphere is full of sadness, hopelessness and fear.

I am in the worst season of loss I’ve ever experienced. Hey, I know other people have been through much more hardships and difficulties than I’ve ever been through, but it doesn’t lessen the emptiness when it happens to you. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone lives without a closeness to God.

Now that I have established my forgoing miseries, my relationship with God has never been better. How could that be?

Well, he’s the reason I can get out of bed.

He’s the reason I breathe.

He’s the only way I am moving forward because looking back is simply too painful.

Years ago I would never have dreamed that my worst time on earth so far would spring into action by God himself as the forerunner for each moment. Yes. Each moment is only given to us by God. I now know what it’s like to live crying out to Him to get through the next moment and the next one after that. It’s a process of learning total dependence upon Him.

Believe me, I have not mastered this at all. The more I try and learn the more I know I don’t know. God has to be the author of patience because I am sure I am jerking His around. He has dealt with more of my whining, grumbling and bleating more than I would like to admit. However He does tell us to come with Him with everything so I let loose with a barrage of emotions I can’t even describe myself in the hopes He will.

To be very honest, I am weary of the constant pruning, refining and clipping. A few months ago God showed me this scripture which defined what He’s been doing with me for a very long time.

Isaiah 48:10 “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

Well, God how much longer is this going to last? So much for me learning patience.

If God prunes or refines anything else there won’t be anything left of me. He has stripped me of everything I have leaned on, depended on or felt some sense of safe security. So guess what verse God gives me when I delivered all that to Him?

2 Corinthians 1:9 “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

Yep. He wants me to completely and totally depend on Him.

Paul was announcing to the world that facing death led Him to lean on God.

My question now is, “God how did I get through so many years depending on anything other than you?”

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Hope for Today will inspire you to live a life connected to Christ by empowering you to fall in love with Jesus through personal spiritual growth. Teaching you the power of your identity and authority in Christ. Encouraging you in your inheritance as an ambassador for the kingdom of God!